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She sits up and looks at me, her face a mix of confusion, pity, and maybe amusement "Really?" she says, and cupsme Her skin is soft, and it s table "You’re so pretty, and you have such a nice figure," she says "Hoere you earning money?"

I sit up too, as I realize what she’s asking ht I was a prostitute?" I say

"Well, no," she says "You seeirls like us get by?"

I think of all the girls who dance in the park at New Year’s parties, how soeneration And all the brothels in the scarlet district with blacked-out s Sometimes a door would open as I passed by, and I’d hear the burst of pulsing hts I think of how deftly Jenna danced that night in the orange grove, and how charismatic she was to these men she despised

Her life was in one of those dark and secret places I’d barely had the courage to walk past on the sidewalk

"I thought the orphanage would have provided you with enough to get by," I say But I realize ih orphans froes had provided for them

Jenna lies back down, and I lie beside her "You’re serious?" she says "So you’ve never"

"No," I say, a tad defensively In ht But I don’t judge her I don’t blame her Like she said, it’s the world we live in

"Well, I don’t knohy he hasn’t coet the sense there’s a reason for everything that happens here"

"I don’t get it," I say "If you hate hiine hih, it has worried me more than once that Linden has not pressed the issue of consue Has he sensedbefore his patience is gone?

She turns to face ray eyes for a moment "It’s not him I’m worried about," she says

"Who?" I blink "Househn?"

She nods

I think of Rose’s body in the basement All those ominous hallways that could lead to anywhere And I sense that Jenna, who is such a keen observer, has found her own reasons in this place to be afraid The question hangs heavy on hn done to you?

But I’e of Rose’s hand under that sheet sends a cold ripple up s lurking beneath the beauty of this mansion And I’d like to be far away fro what they are

Chapter 10

It see with new colors I’ve been here for six hn when I can And at dinner when he regales me in banter about the meal or the weather, I try to s cockroaches up and down my spine

Linden findsin the grass, and I’ for me or if he’d lad he’s here Now that er sister wife, I’ve had little opportunity to earn his favor We’re alone in his dead wife’s favorite place, and I sense an opportunity to bond with hiround beside rass We’re both silent as a breeze ers in the trees; the rustling leaves are her ethereal laughter Linden followsI listen to the rhythnore the nearly iht on by his presence The back of his hand just barely brushes onal

"I’ season," he says finally "Everything shriveling up and dying"

I don’t kno to answer Fall has always beenbursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale I’ve never thought to be frightened of it My greatest fear is another year ofby while I’m so far froh above us They’rethe planet They have seen abysmal oceans, and charred, scorched islands

They have seen hoe destroyed the world If I could see everything, as the clouds do, would I swirl around this re continent, still so full of color and life and seasons, wanting to protect it? Or would I just laugh at the futility of it all, andatmosphere?

Linden takes in another breath, and he e to put his hand overin Linden Ashby’s world is fake, an illusion, but the sky and the orange blossoms are real His body beside ?" he asks e I have never allowed myself to be honest with him, but here, noant to tell him what’s on my mind